Wednesday, June 4, 2008

How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off by a Carpet Cleaning Company


When making an important buying decision, such as purchasing a car or computer, most people do some form of research. Some check with the BBB, read consumer reports, do research on the Web, etc. However, when it comes to one of the most expensive investments in your home, your carpeting, most consumers don’t take the time necessary to find a qualified, reputable company.
When choosing a carpet cleaning company, look for one that:

1. Is certified by the IICRC ( Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification). They are the foremost authority for standard setting in the carpet and restoration industry. Being certified means the technicians have gone through the schooling, and have passed exams to earn their certification.

2. Uses the Hot water Extraction (HWE) or steam cleaning method. This is the only method recommended by carpet manufacturers and provides the most effective and thorough way to clean your carpet. (Rids your carpet of dirt, pollens, fungus, bacteria, air pollution, cigarette smoke, car exhaust -- and hundreds of other chemicals you bring into your home on a daily basis.)

3. Offers a 100% Money-Back Guarantees. We have one of the strongest guarantees in the industry: “The Most Thorough Cleaning Ever or It’s FREE!” If any spots return, so do we at no extra charge. And if the client isn’t happy after that, we refund every penny. Making sure that our clients are happy is our #1 concern!

4. Values your time. Service people are notorious for being late. Often times they show up late or not at all. We have an on-time guarantee: if we are even a minute late, we will take $25 off the bill.

5. Enables quick drying times. One of the biggest complaints we have heard from clients is that the last time they had their carpet cleaned by another company it took too long to dry. Because we clean with hot water and have a powerful vacuum, carpets that we clean dry in about 3-6 hours or less. We also offer our exclusive Turbo Drying System, which makes carpet dry even faster.

6. Offers No Hidden Charges. Some companies have a base price and then tack on additional charges for spotting, pre-spray, furniture moving, trip charges, etc. Beware of Bait and Switch companies who advertise extremely low prices such as $7.95 per room, and then charge $0.15 - $0.20 per square foot for pre-spray. So what you thought was going to cost you under $25 for 3 rooms now costs $125. We offer many extras and always include them in our price.

7. Stays Clean Longer. Many people say that their carpet gets dirty so quickly after having them cleaned. We never get that complaint and here’s why. We thoroughly flush out all soil and contaminants out of carpet from the base of the fiber to the top, which keeps your carpet clean longer.

8. Offers Excellent Customer Service. There are hundreds of carpet cleaning companies out there. Some good, some horrible. What truly makes one stand apart from the rest is the customer service they provide. You will get a wonderful experience with Allied from the moment you call us (we will answer any questions you have, no matter how silly you think they are) until the moment we leave your home and beyond. We go the extra mile for all of our clients. Why? Because we want you to be a lifetime client, not a one-time customer!
This article was written by Bryan Hammond, President of Allied Carpet Cleaning, located in Denver Colorado. Bryan has been in the carpet cleaning industry for over 20 years and is certified by the IICRC. For more carpet cleaning information check out his website at http://www.alliedcarpetcleaning.com/.



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How To Get Candle Wax Out Of Carpet


Have you ever accidentally spilled candle wax on your carpet? You probably thought you might have just ruined your carpet. It is not the easiest spill to remove from your carpet, but with a few steps you might be able to correct the little mishap.

The first thing you should do is take a spoon and scrape up as much of the wax as you can. Take an ice cube and place it on the wax for 30 - 60 seconds to help it freeze so you can scrape off more.

After you have scraped off as much as possible, there will probably be some wax left in the carpet. Next, cover the wax with a brown paper bag. Place an iron on the low setting on top of the paper bag. This will heat up the wax and start to liquify it. The wax will be absorbed into the brown paper bag. You should only leave the iron in one spot on the paper bag for 20 - 30 seconds at a time. You need to be careful not to leave the iron on one spot to long and scorch the carpet underneath. The brown paper bag will appear greasy where the wax is being absorbed. Just move it to a new spot on the bag. Keep repeating this process until the wax has been removed.

Sometimes the dyes from the wax could remain. If that's the case, put a little clear rubbing alcohol onto a white towel and dab it onto the spot. Continue dabbing the spot until no more of the colored dye transfers onto the towel.

The last step is to rinse the spot with clean water. Make sure you wipe up the excess water with a clean white towel. Dry up area as quick as possible to prevent the spot from wicking.
If you are a little hesitant about trying this process yourself, you can call your local IICRC-certified professional carpet cleaner for help. For the IICRC toll-free Referral Line, call (800) 835-4624, or you can visit them on the web at http://www.iicrc.org./

This article was written by Bryan Hammond, President of Allied Carpet Cleaning, located in Denver Colorado. Bryan has been in the carpet cleaning industry for over 20 years and is certified by the IICRC. For more carpet cleaning information check out his website at http://www.alliedcarpetcleaning.com/.


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